2000 Saturn SC1 stalling

SCHMOOIEWHO1

MEMBER
2000 SATURN SC1
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
160,000 MILES

I was driving home one day when my car just stopped. I let it sit overnite, went back and the car started fine so I drove it home. Before it stopped it had been running for about 20 minutes or so.
Now I can only drive it for about 5 minutes before it either stalls or doesnt start at all untill it sits for a few hours. Ive gotten several suggestions as to what the problem is. Fuel filter (do not think it has ever been changed) the Crankshaft position sensor, and the fuel pressure regulator. I have to fix this on a budget and really cannot afford a big diagnostic fee. Any suggestions?
Thank you

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Well ur fuel pressure regulator is in the fuel filter and if u have never changed I would if I were u it's probably plugged solid. They have them at autozone for like 36 I got one for my 99 Saturn I don't think that's ur problem though. Most likely it's ur crank sensor I have seen tons of them go bad and do the same thing. If u had a code reader that could read rpm when it didn't start then u could see if u read any rpms when cranking it over then if u didn't bad crank sensor. But my guess is u don't so what u can do is when it stops running go under the hood and take out the 8mm bolt that holds down two of ur sparkplug wires that are side by side remove the two wires form the coil towers have someone crank the engine over while u watch for a spark jumping from tower to tower don't touch the car while it's cranking if no spark jumps u probably have a bad crank sensor. There under 40 so that's what I would do if I were u. Let me know what u find.
Louie